Chapter 17: Double life at Karnegie Country club Thanks to Rachel's recommendation, I landed a job as a waitress at the prestigious Karnegie Club, found in 1736. The Karnegie Club, oh boy, where do I even begin? The members walk around like they own the place, probably because they do. It's like stepping into a world where everyone's last name is engraved on a golden plaque, and if yours isn't, well, good luck getting past the front gate. It was like stepping into a scene from a movie where the rich and famous mingled with the absurdly posh. The walls were adorned with paintings of ancient ancestors who probably never lifted a finger in their lives, except perhaps to ring a bell for their servants.And oh, the dress code for waitresses! It was stricter than a kindergarten teacher during nap time. If your socks didn't match your bow tie, you might as well have been wearing a clown suit. The members strutted around like peacocks, their noses held high enough to detect even the faintest
Chapter 18: Flirting with dangerThe following week, as I was leaving the country club, the night crowd began to trickle in. One thing I had noticed was the the day members were usually older, like 35 and above while the night crowd were young folks around seventeen to thirty years old; around my age.Among the newcomers was Bernita. The moment I caught sight of her, I instinctively attempted to blend into the background, hoping to avoid detection. I hoped she would not see me but it was too late."Jessica, Jessica, isn’t that you?" she called out, her voice cutting through the chatter of the arriving guests.Caught off guard, I turned around to face her, trying to maintain a composed facade. I froze for a moment, trying to come up with an excuse to escape. "Oh, hi, Bernita," I greeted, mustering a forced smile. She began to introduce me to her friends. “Everyone, meet Jessica. Her father does real estate, I think. Jessica, meet Tasha, Yara, Darla and Stephanie.”"Nice to meet you al
Chapter 19: Living two different lives.Living a double life was proving to be more challenging than I ever imagined. By day, I played the role of a humble waitress, serving tables alongside my best friend, Rachel. But as soon as the sun dipped below the horizon, I shed my apron and slipped into the world of the elite, rubbing shoulders with the wealthy and privileged. During the day, I was Jessica Raye, the hardworking waitress, but by nightfall, I transformed into someone entirely different—a sophisticated socialite, mingling effortlessly with the upper crust. It was a charade, a masquerade of sorts, and I was the master of disguise.But, I felt so guilty and uncertain. Was I deceiving others, or was I deceiving myself? With each passing day, the line between reality and fiction blurred further, and I found myself questioning my own motives. Yet, I couldn't deny the thrill of living on the edge. It was exhilarating, intoxicating even. "You're just living your best life," I'd whisper
Chapter twenty: A surprising date with danger.Do you remember that a big company, Xeto Technologies stole my app, BrainBoost and made a dumb counterfeit? If you were paying attention, you would remember. Well, since then, we have reorganized and made a proper plan to get justice. Our first course of action was awareness. We wanted to make sure everyone knew that the Albert Einstein Competition was a complete scam.On Wednesdays, we would carry placards and cardboard with slogans written on them like: “Return what you stole!”, “Pay us our money!”, “Down with Capitalism!”Sometimes, we would even march around in front of the building.All our efforts were turning out to be in vain. At first, news channel were coming to capture footage and interview us. But they suddenly stopped. I guess they got tired of us or maybe someone important paid them off. I’ll never understand why. We were slowly becoming a mere nuisance. Xeto Technologies had stationed very muscular security guards at the ga
Chapter twenty one: An intoxicated nightWe kept talking about several things until the sun casted a golden hue over the landscape. As the sky painted itself in hues of orange and pink, we fell into a comfortable silence. As the final remnants of daylight disappeared from the sky, Scott turned to me with a smile plastered on his face. “We should do this again," he suggested. "Another date, perhaps?"Feeling a surge of spontaneity, I couldn't resist the urge to suggest something bold. "Why wait?" I proposed eagerly. "Let's seize the moment and head to a party right now. A friend of mine is throwing one tonight."Without hesitation, we gathered our belongings and set off into the night. When we arrived at the party, I said to Scott, “I’m gonna go find my best friend, Rachel. Just wait for me here.”I left to find Rachel amidst a sea of people.“Ahhhhhhh!!! You came!” Rachel screamed excitedly when she caught sight of me. With a delighted squeal, she enveloped me in a tight embrace, and
Chapter twenty two: The end of a love that never startedMany weeks after that night, Rachel would not stop disturbing me. “Won’t you tell me about your mystery man?” She asked over and over again. Her persistence was like a pesky mosquito buzzing in my ear, relentless and kinda irritating. No matter how many times I swatted her inquiries away, she kept coming back for more. I felt my patience wearing thinner than a strand of spaghetti. But I understood that she was just a caring best friend, always concerned about me."It's not that big of a deal," I repeated, hoping to deflect her curiosity like a pro. But Rachel was like a detective on a mission, refusing to let go of her interrogation tactics."But you sounded so excited last night. You seem different now," she prodded, her eyes narrowing in suspicion.I sighed.“Who is he and what did he do to you? If he broke your heart, he’ll have me to deal with," Rachel declared, her protective instincts kicking into high gear.I waved her of
Chapter twenty three: David versus Goliath.I continued walking, but he hurried after me. He raised his hand, and I instinctively flinched, thinking he was going to hit me again.“I was not going to hit you. I wanted to swat a mosquito that kept hovering around,” Scott explained."I'm not sure whether or not I believe him," I thought to myself, eyeing him cautiously. His hand was still raised against me.Out of nowhere, a hand held back Scott’s. "What the hell is going on here?" The deep voice demanded. I felt another airy rush of deja vu. It reminded of when David defended me from Penelope. And here he was, defending me once more from another bully.I stepped forward, trying to regain composure. “David, I can handle this. You don’t have to fight my battles for me.”He flashed me a quick genuine smile. “I know you can handle yourself. Just let me help you this one time.”“Hey, hey, who do you think you are? Mind you business, man!” Scott barked. His body tensed in a hint of aggressio
Chapter twenty four: Bernita Drama The next day, I was just about to clock out of work when Bernita stormed in with indescribable fury. Her outfit was a clash of colors straight out of a fashion disaster, with hues of blue, pink, and red fighting for attention. Her hair was a tangled mess; strands were flying in all directions. Streaks of black mascara were dripping down her cheeks. Her makeup was totally smudged. Because I had distanced myself from my double life, I had been avoiding Bernita and hadn’t even seen her in weeks. I was tempted to run away but I just couldn’t in good conscience leave her in such a terrible condition. Could I turn a blind eye to her obvious distress?I hesitated for a moment because I really wasn’t in the mood to deal with any Bernita Drama. With a resigned sigh, I approached her cautiously. "Bernita, what's wrong? You look like you've been through a hurricane," I said, trying to mask my reluctance with concern.She shot me a venomous glare before unlea
Chapter forty sixThere was one feeling I loved more than anything in the world. It was a feeling I cherished above all others, that I would do anything to hold onto. No, it wasn't the joy of winning the lottery (though that would be nice). It wasn't the thrill of skydiving or bungee jumping (let's be honest, that's more like heart-stopping terror than love). It wasn't even the satisfaction of finding the last slice of pizza in the fridge at midnight (although that's pretty high up on the list).It was the feeling of being truly understood. The feeling of being seen, not just for the mask I wore or the role I played, but for the person I was at my core. To have someone look into my eyes and see the essence of who I am, to hear my words and understand the thoughts and emotions behind them, that was a feeling unlike any other.I only felt that way in the arms of Scott Sanders, my husband. I felt truly alive, truly connected, as if I had found my place in the universe. After a long day a
Chapter forty five: Threats and PowerAs the morning light streamed through the curtains, I slowly opened my eyes to the sight of two warm, captivating brown eyes fixed on me with unabashed adoration. It was Scott, my beloved, greeting me with a tender smile."Good morning, beautiful," he greeted with affection.I chuckled lightly. "Have you been staring at me again, mister?" I teased, the corners of my lips lifting into a playful smile."How did God create a woman so perfect in every way?" he mused, his fingers tracing a delicate path along my right cheek."I guess we'll never know," I replied, meeting his gaze with a playful wink, knowing that in his eyes, I was indeed perfect.As Scott leaned in, his lips poised to meet mine in a tender morning kiss, I playfully swerved away. With a giggle, I swiftly pulled the sheets up, covering myself completely. "Oh, no you don't," I exclaimed, my laughter bubbling up as I hid beneath the cozy fortress."Come on, don't hide from me," he tease
⚠️ Warning: This is for readers 18+Back in my house, as I slipped out of my clothes and into the soft silk of my nightdress, my mind kept circling back to that tense encounter with Scott earlier in his office. It was the first time I had seen that side of him—assertive, calculating, and unyielding. And strangely, it ignited a fire within me that I hadn't expected. As much as I wanted to resist and stick to the marriage contract, I found myself drawn to the raw power he exuded, the way his eyes gleamed with intensity. I realized there was a side to Scott I had never explored, a side that awakened desires I never knew existed. And as I stood there in the dim glow of my bedroom, bathed in the soft light of the moon, I couldn't shake the feeling that I wanted more. I wanted his touch to linger on my skin and ignite a hunger that burned deep within me. I craved the feel of his hands, the heat of his body pressed against mine. It was intoxicating, irresistible.But as much as I yearned fo
Part 2: Who is Laura?Once upon a time, Laura had been a young and ambitious teenage girl with a thirst for adventure. She was always a thrill-seeker, looking for excitement in all the wrong places. She met Big Tony, the notorious leader of a small-time gang, at a rundown bar on the outskirts of town. Despite his rough exterior, there was something charming about Tony that drew Laura to him like a moth to a flame. They quickly fell into a passionate whirlwind romance, fueled by adrenaline and the promise of a life less ordinary. They were partners in crime, planning heists and pulling off daring robberies across the city.The infamous robbery that sealed their fate was at the city's most prestigious jewelry store. Laura and Tony orchestrated an elaborate plan to steal a collection of priceless diamonds. This diamond was not just any gem; it was rumored to be a priceless heirloom with significant monetary value. With Laura's cunning and Tony's muscle, they successfully executed the he
Chapter forty three: The tattoo studio.Scott took a u-turn at a very familiar street. At the end of road, I saw a neon sign looming ahead. It was the tattoo studio where I had asked Scott to marry me."Why are we here?" I asked."Just follow my lead," he replied cryptically.We parked in front of the studio, the neon sign casting an ethereal glow over the pavement. Stepping out of the car, I followed Scott as he strode purposefully towards the entrance. "Hey, boss," they greeted him.Butch, the tattoo artist, a burly man with a bushy beard, looked up from his workbench and greeted us with a nod."Back so soon with the wifey?" he asked, his tone gruff yet friendly.Scott flashed him a wry grin. "I'm not here for tattoos this time," he said, motioning towards me.He took me to his inner office. The walls were adorned with an eclectic collection of artwork, dominated by nude, obscene paintings of women in provocative poses. The scent of rich tobacco cigarettes hung heavy in the air, min
Chapter forty two: Hear my truth.I could not risk helping a wanted criminal with a heist. The only thing I had been stealing those days were hearts – metaphorically, of course. Need I mention that I'm too pretty to go to jail – and far too fabulous for a life of crime. I knew for sure that I was not cut out for life behind bars? I mean, orange may be the new black, but it's definitely not my color, darling. Plus, have you seen the food they serve in prison?On a more serious note, there I was, a successful CEO with everything to lose, being blackmailed by my own sister, a fugitive wanted by the FBI. It was like something out of a twisted crime thriller, only this was my reality. I had worked too hard to build my reputation and my empire from the ground up to throw it all away for a daring heist. I had clawed my way to the top, overcoming countless obstacles and naysayers along the way, and I wasn't about to let my sister's reckless antics derail my hard-earned success.No, I had to t
Chapter forty one: The secret is out"Laura, what's going on? How are you?"She didn't reply. Instead, she offered me a tight-lipped smile, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for something. "Look at this huge ass office for only you. It's way bigger than the tiny apartment we grew up in. Jason, mom, dad, you and me all squeezed together. Do you remember that excuse for a home we lived in?" She said with a bitter laugh."You look... different," I simply stated."Really? Well, not much has changed for me," she said as she sat on my table, instead of the chair like a normal person. "I got a few tattoos, robbed a few banks, got a nipples piercing, pulled some heists, got arrested and sentenced, escaped from prison, died my hair green, robbed a jewelry store, stole some diamonds but I'm still not as rich as you. I still don't got the shit that you do. Life works in twisted ways, right?"My eyes widened in disbelief as Laura casually recounted her wild exploits as if it was so
Chapter forty: Why and what ifs...There are certain random thoughts that occupy my mind for no apparent reason. Like, seriously, why is the sky blue? Did someone spill a giant bottle of blue paint up there, and now it's just stuck like that? Or maybe it's just Mother Nature's way of saying, "Hey, I like blue, let's make the sky match my favorite color!" And what if the sky decided to change colors one day? Would we all freak out and think the world was ending?The same way, my mind sometimes veers towards darker thoughts. Like why did my sister, Laura, pack her bags and leave us in the dust just for a silly little boyfriend? Was he really worth abandoning her family for? Would she ever come back? Was she even alive or dead? How was she doing?The last time I heard from her was when she sent me a postcard from Greece. People said that she had turned to the life of crime but I refused to believe. She was my sister, my own blood after all. But I saw her face on the FBI's most wanted per
Chapter thirty nine: Wedding day: will she or won't she?On the morning of the wedding, I was already bustling about my room, surrounded by a whirlwind of activity. My hired bridesmaids were buzzing around me, making final adjustments to my dress and ensuring every detail was perfect for the big day.Just as I was about to take a moment to myself, there was a knock on the door. Startled, I turned to see David standing in the doorway, looking both nervous and determined."David? What are you doing here?" I asked, my heart racing with a mix of surprise and apprehension."I need to talk to you, Jessie," said David, his voice urgent."Come in," I said finally, stepping aside to let him enter.I glanced around at the bridesmaids, silently indicating that I needed a moment alone with David. They nodded understandingly and left the room, closing the door behind them.Alone now, I faced him with my emotions guarded. "This isn't really the best time, David. I'm getting married today.""I know,